Aston Villa surprise champions of Premier League top-four mini-league as fans joke ‘Arsenal taking second everywhere’

ASTON VILLA are surprise winners of the Premier League top-four mini league – sparking more second-class trolling of Arsenal.

Villa romped home by two points ahead in the tiny table of results between the four Champions League qualifiers.

GettyVilla boss Unai Emery did the double over his old club[/caption]

ReutersDeclan Rice and Jorginho reflect on Arsenal’s fading title bid[/caption]

The Gunners were runners-up with Liverpool third and Prem leaders Manchester City BOTTOM.

And with Mikel Arteta’s men facing a second successive season as Prem runners-up to City, one fan joked: “Arsenal taking second everywhere.”

That might be harsh as the Gunners men picked up two wins and a couple of draws from the six elite Prem games over the season

But their two defeats against top-four rivals were both against Villa – managed by their old boss Unai Emery.

After winning 1-0 last December, the Villans’ 2-0 victory at the Emirates last month really turned the title tide away from Arsenal and in favour of City.

Emery’s side also beat City 1-0 at home but then crashed 4-1 at the Etihad on April 3.

In all, Villa finished with 10 points in the mini-league, with three wins, a draw and two losses.

Meanwhile, City picked up four points less – suggesting their success is based on remorseless consistency against weaker sides.

ReutersOllie Watkins has had a brilliant season as Villa stunned the top dogs[/caption]

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Most fans were full of respect for Villa’s stunning achievement of impressing against major sides and being guaranteed fourth spot in the full Prem table.

“Wow – they did so good this year!” said one observer.

Another claimed: “Yeah, gotta give credit where it’s due. Villa’s been punching above their weight in the big games.”

A third pointed out: “Man Utd are the only club that beat them home and away this season.”

But a fourth insisted: “Mini league champions… you’ll never sing that.”

Others were puzzled by City’s poor record against their top-four opponents.

One posted: “Man City winning the Premier league with only one win over the top 4 is all you need to know about how Pep has turned this League to his farm house.”